The panoptic model, as initially described by Bentham and later elaborated upon to adjust to modern society by Foucault, readily applies to a person's everyday life. As any person walks into a supermarket, drug store, mall, or department store we are all subjected to the ideas behind panopticism – those of being carefully watched and scrutinized for our actions. Inside each of these places lies the potential for observation of its occupants by means of surveillance. Cameras, undercover security, security tags, and other mechanisms of in-building control plague our movements inside of these buildings. As any person enters they are instantly subjected to a force of power that is "visible and unverifiable" (Foucault). Camera "bubbles" and security tags are visible and quick to be pointed out; however, where exactly security lurks remains unknown as well as which person security is watching is unverifiable. Our demeanor inside of these buildings is dictated by the presence of this power.
             However; the panoptic model cannot be fully applied to modern surveillance for three reasons. The first being that both the original panoptic model by Bentham and Foucault's model both require an individualization of the persons being observed – be it for prison, medical, educational, or training purposes, both models require that "each actor is alone, perfectly individualized and constantly visible" (Foucault). Inside of department stores, etc. each person is not necessarily alone. Either a person came with a group or there are others around them. Foucault does not attempt to argue the effects of the panopticon inside of a group mentality as this goes against the basis of individual observation. When inside of a group a single person is not the only mind behind an action. Each person's action is characterized by the composition of the group. Inside of a department store where survei...